Management Resources

Effective Utility Management

Since 2007, Effective Utility Management (EUM) has been a widely accepted and widely used framework for operating and managing utilities in the U.S. water sector. EUM was developed by a group of water utility leaders from across the country, convened by the water sector and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These executives developed recommendations for EUM, a management strategy applicable to water, wastewater and combined water/wastewater utilities that features ten attributes of effectively managed utilities and five keys to management success.

EUM was updated in 2016 to reflect changes to the water utility operating context over the past decade that have brought about new challenges and opportunities for the nation’s water systems, such as accelerated adoption of automated systems and increased climate variability.

To support the implementation of EUM, an online Resource Toolbox was developed for interested utilities, with a “how-to” implementation Primer, case studies of successful EUM use and suggested sample performance measures to improve utility management across the sector.

EPA also published Moving Toward Sustainability: Effective and Sustainable Practices for Creating Your Water Utility Roadmap. The document provides utilities of various sizes with a series of proven and effective practices that can help them move toward sustainability over time at a pace consistent with their needs and the needs of the communities they serve. Developed with extensive input from utility managers across the country, it is an important supplement to the tools available to the EUM approach.

Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative

The Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative is a diverse group of public health, water utility, environmental, labor, consumer, and housing organizations from across the country working together to encourage communities to accelerate the full replacement of LSLs through collaborative efforts at the local level. The Collaborative has developed web-based tools and resources intended to support an accelerate LSL replacement initiatives.

Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative

The Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative is a diverse group of public health, water utility, environmental, labor, consumer, and housing organizations from across the country working together to encourage communities to accelerate the full replacement of LSLs through collaborative efforts at the local level. The Collaborative has developed web-based tools and resources intended to support an accelerate LSL replacement initiatives.